Etna News

A U.S. warship took its first delivery of Italian-made biofuel on Thursday as part of the Navy's programme to use more alternative energy. The USS Mason was refuelled alongside an Italian vessel, the Andrea Doria, in the seas off of Italy's southern coast with a mix produced by Italy's Eni that has 5.5 percent palm oil biofuel blended into marine fuel. The two destroyers travelled at about 5 knots side by side with a supply ship, the Etna, between them pumping the fuel to both ships through large black tubes. "It's a first today," U.S. Navy Secretary Ray Mabus told Reuters aboard the Mason.

On 19th March the EU NAVFOR Spanish warship Navarra was dispatched by the Force HQ (ITS ETNA) to assist an Iranian dhow that had sent out a distress call. The Iranian fishing dhow, named UAID 400, with 13 crewmembers, had suffered a pirate attack some days before and had been left without food, water or sufficient fuel to return to shore. After a high speed dash, the Navarra’s helicopter located the dhow early the following morning, 60 N Miles from its last known position. The crew were seen on deck waving their arms and making desperate signs for help as the helicopter approached them.

This morning, 17 March, saw the culmination of highly successful EU NAVFOR pirate disruption activities by the EU NAVFOR French warship Nivose against Pirate Action Groups (PAG) operating in the Somali basin, approximately 350 nautical miles off the Somali Coast. The PAG activities on 4 March led to an immediate response by EU NAVFOR warships and Maritime Patrol Aircraft and the EU NAVFOR Flag ship ETNA despatched Nivose to seek out the PAGs operating in the area. On 5 March, Nivose intercepted a PAG and boarded two skiffs and a mother ship. The mother ship (whaler) was destroyed and she took on board two skiffs and detained 11 suspected pirates in an area clearly linked to the unsuccessful attack on the Spanish FV Intertuna 2.

On March 12, after receiving a report from MV E.R. Lubeck (Liberian Flag, German owner), that pirates in two skiffs had tried to hijack her, COMEUNAVFOR initiated a surge operation to intercept and disrupt the pirate action group (PAG). The EU NAVFOR Flagship ITS Etna tasked the EUNAVFOR Swedish and Luxemburg Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) and EUNAVFOR Warship HNLMS Tromp against the PAG consisting of one mother skiff and two skiffs. The attack on the Lubeck took place almost one thousand miles from the Somali coast and HNLMS Tromp proceeded at best speed to assist.

Over the weekend of 5 – 7 March, EU NAVFOR units have been involved in concerted operations to interdict and disrupt pirate action groups before they had the opportunity to pirate vessels in the Indian Ocean. Six pirate action groups have been intercepted, mother ships and skiffs have been destroyed and over 40 pirates have been taken into custody. As reported by EU NAVFOR on 5 March, the Force Commander of Operation ATALANTA, RAdm Giovanni GUMIERO, onboard the ITS Etna, tasked the French EU NAVFOR Warship FS NivosE to intercept and disrupt the pirate attack group…

Rear Adm. Allen G. Myers relieved Italian Navy Rear Adm. Emilio Foltzer as Combined Task Force (CTF) 152 commander Dec. 3 during a change of control ceremony aboard ITS Etna (A 5326). CTF 152 is responsible for conducting maritime security operations (MSO) in the central and southern Persian Gulf. During the ceremony, Myers stressed the importance of regional maritime partnerships. “Between supporting Operation Enduring Freedom and continuing the mission of maritime security operations, cooperation with regional partners is imperative,” said Myers. Foltzer said he is confident CTF 152 will continue to make a positive impact on security and stability in the region under Myers’ supervision. “Today, CTF 152 returns back to the U.S. Navy under the sage leadership of [Rear] Adm.